The end of the holiday means taking down the Christmas tree.
Among the options for what to do with it, local firefighters will again be running a fundraiser drop-off for people to bring their old tree to be chipped for a donation. COVID protocols will be in place.
In Courtenay, the Courtenay Fire Department is holding its annual Christmas Tree Collection and Chipping fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 8, and Sunday, Jan. 9, running between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For a minimum donation of $5, people can bring their tree either to the fire hall on 650 Cumberland Rd. or the shopping mall parking lot at Crown Isle on Lerwick Road in front of Thrifty Foods.
As well, there is at-home pickup available in areas served by the department for a minimum $5 donation. This includes fire protection district areas. To arrange this, contact the fire hall in advance at 250-334-2513 or by emailing fireevents@courtenay.ca
The proceeds will again go to support local charities and youth sport groups.
For Comox residents, Comox Fire Rescue will also be taking donations to receive and chip trees on Jan. 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can bring their trees to the fire station at 1870 Noel Ave.
There is a home pick-up option available too for a minimum $5 donation. People should call 250-339-2432 in advance to arrange pick-up. The Town of Cumberland also notes people can put out trees with regular residential yard waste, though they should cut the tree in half and have no tinsel or other items on the branches.
The proceeds from the Comox Fire Rescue tree chipping go to support YANA (You Are Not Alone).
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In Cumberland, the village website says residents can leave trees for regular curbside organics collection. The trunks are supposed to be less than three inches in diameter and three feet long. People are asked to cut the trees into sections to fit the three-foot requirement. As well, they should remove all decorations and tinsel from trees.
Comox Strathcona Waste Management also notes on its website that in addition to the drop-off chipping programs and regular municipal government curbside pick-up, Christmas trees are considered yard waste and can be brought to the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre in Cumberland.
mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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